Explore the role of medics and healthcare workers in promoting peace

On this course you will learn about the key principles and different forms of medical peace work in the context of global health, conflict and violence. You will consider the role healthcare workers have to play in the prevention of violence and peace practices.

You will examine scenarios such as working in a conflict zone, nuclear explosions, storms, floods, heatwaves, infectious disease, migration and violent conflict. In each case you will consider the effects of these on global health.

0:08Skip to 0 minutes and 8 secondsA bomb blast at the district hospital this morning has left between 10 and 20 people injured. The explosion happened at dawn damaging the hospital kitchen in the side wing of the building.... Violence at different levels is one of the greatest determinants of ill health and death. Medical Peace Work is an emerging field of expertise, which combines health care, violence prevention and peace building. My name is Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy, and I am Adi Vyas. This MOOC has been made by the University of Bergen in collaboration with the European Medical Peace Work Partnership, and will introduce you to the key concepts, opportunities and dilemmas in medical peace work.

0:49Skip to 0 minutes and 49 secondsOur first case study will identify challenges faced by health workers during violent conflict, especially the tension between medical ethics, security priorities, and the need for impartiality.

1:05Skip to 1 minute and 5 secondsOur second case tries to understand large-scale violence, using the example of a nuclear explosion. What are the effects on the human body and why have health professionals become so involved in the prevention of nuclear war?

1:23Skip to 1 minute and 23 secondsOur third case explores indirect or structural violence, and how global warming can be understood as a form of violence that affects health, and whether health professionals have a duty to ‘do no harm’ in this public health context. So, join us as we explore these important global health issues through the lens of public health and peace practice. Whatever your professional background, together we can begin our journey towards a healthier, more peaceful world.

What topics will you&nbspcover?

1) Animated stories to illustrate the effects of personal and structural violence in global health:

When would you like to&nbspstart?

What will you&nbspachieve?

Discuss various definitions of the concepts of violence, conflict and peace, and their relationship to health professions

Describe the types of medical peace work that health care professionals can participate in globally and locally

Evaluate and respond to various forms of violence in health practice

Who is the course&nbspfor?

This course is for global health professionals as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students in healthcare professions (medicine, nursing, allied and public health) and global health and development studies.